MeshCore telemetry functions
Everything about battery monitoring, GPS telemetry, sensor data and environment metrics for monitoring your mesh network
Telemetry in MeshCore networks
MeshCore nodes automatically send telemetry data about their status and environment. This includes battery level, temperature, GPS location, and more. Telemetry helps you monitor the network and diagnose problems.
Each node periodically sends telemetry messages to the network. This data is shared with all nodes on the channel and is visible in the app. You see the network health in real-time: which nodes are online, where they are, and how their batteries are doing.
In this guide we explain what telemetry data is available, how you can connect sensors, and how you can use the data for monitoring, alerting, and analysis.
Types of telemetry
Device telemetry
Battery voltage, percentage, charging status. Essential for monitoring mobile nodes and planning battery replacement.
Position telemetry
GPS coordinates, altitude, speed. Automatically sent for tracking and mapping of nodes in the network.
Environment telemetry
Temperature, humidity, pressure, air quality. Via external sensors like BME280, BMP280, DHT22.
Air quality telemetry
IAQ index, gas resistance, VOC levels. Via sensors like BME680 for air quality monitoring.
Device telemetry details
Every MeshCore node automatically sends status information about itself. This is called device telemetry and contains crucial health metrics:
This data is sent every 15-60 minutes (configurable). You can see all nodes in the app with their battery level. Useful to know when to replace batteries or clean solar panels.
Supported environment sensors
BME280 / BMP280
Temperature, air pressure, humidity. Most popular sensor. I2C interface. ~€5 via AliExpress.
BME680
Like BME280 but with VOC gas sensor for air quality (IAQ). Ideal for indoor air quality monitoring. ~€10.
DHT22
Cheap temperature + humidity sensor. Less accurate than BME but sufficient for basic measurements. ~€2.
SHT31
High precision temperature and humidity. Better than DHT22. I2C interface. Used in professional applications.
INA219 / INA260
Voltage + current sensor. Measures solar panel output, battery charge/discharge current. For advanced power monitoring.
Custom sensors
Via I2C or analog pins you can connect custom sensors. MeshCore supports plugins for new sensor types.
GPS telemetry and tracking
If your node has a GPS module (like NEO-6M, NEO-8M, or built-in GPS), it automatically sends position updates. This is useful for tracking, mapping, and emergency location sharing.
Benefits of telemetry
Network visibility
See all nodes in real-time: where they are, how their battery is doing, if they are online. Complete network health in one dashboard.
Proactive monitoring
Alerts when batteries are low, nodes go offline, or sensors measure abnormal values. Prevent problems before they become serious.
Location tracking
GPS telemetry shows where all nodes are located. Ideal for hiking groups, events, search & rescue, fleet tracking.
Environment monitoring
Measure temperature, humidity, air pressure, air quality. Build your own weather stations or sensor network.
Data analysis
Telemetry data can be exported via MQTT for long-term storage, graphing in Grafana, alerting in Home Assistant.
Troubleshooting
If a node has problems, you immediately see the battery level, uptime, last position. Easier to diagnose issues.
Frequently asked questions
How often is telemetry sent?
By default every 15 minutes for device telemetry, 30-60 minutes for sensor telemetry. GPS can be more frequent (every 2-5 min) if "smart positioning" is on. Everything is configurable. Lower interval = faster updates but more battery drain.
Do I need sensors for telemetry?
No, device telemetry (battery, uptime) always works automatically. GPS telemetry only works if you have a GPS module. Environment telemetry requires external sensors like BME280. The basic node functionality works without sensors.
Can I export telemetry data to other systems?
Yes! Via MQTT bridge you can send telemetry to MQTT broker. From there import into Home Assistant, InfluxDB, Grafana, etc. See the MeshCore MQTT integration page for details.
Which GPS module should I use?
NEO-6M (~€8) is cheap and sufficient for basic tracking. NEO-8M (~€15) has better accuracy and faster fix. Both work with MeshCore. Some nodes like T-Beam have GPS built-in.
Does telemetry use a lot of data / battery?
Telemetry packets are small (10-50 bytes). Impact on battery is minimal (~1-2% extra drain). GPS is a battery hog though (~50 mA). Use "smart positioning" or disable GPS if battery life is priority.
Can I add custom telemetry?
Yes! MeshCore supports custom sensor plugins. You can connect your own sensors via I2C, SPI, or analog pins and send data via telemetry packets. See the plugin development documentation.
Start with telemetry monitoring
Ready to monitor your MeshCore network with telemetry? Choose a device with GPS and sensor support.